Photograph by Ashley Gieseking
The kings of the summertime shaved-ice scene are Mr. Harry’s Carnival Foods, with wild flavors like cherimoya, and Tropical Moose, serving treats to people and liver-flavored ice to grateful dogs.
LOCATIONS
Mr. Harry's Carnival Foods: One in Ballwin
Tropical Moose: One in Webster and two in Kirkwood, including a new concession stand at Kirkwood Park
SEATING
Mr. Harry's Carnival Foods: Seats 32 inside, 10 on the patio
Tropical Moose: Benches for about 50, plus a huge plaza to stroll
ICE SOURCE
Mr. Harry's Carnival Foods: Block ice in a Southern Snow shaver; Frigid Frog flavors
Tropical Moose: Block ice in a Japanese shaving machine; mostly Rio flavors
NUMBER OF FLAVORS
Mr. Harry's Carnival Foods: 40 regular, 10 sugar-free
Tropical Moose: 54 regular, 6 sugar-free
POPULAR FLAVORS
Mr. Harry's Carnival Foods: For adults, Big Red (strawberry cream soda); for kids, rainbow
Tropical Moose: For adults, cherry; for kids, Monkey Snot (see below) or wedding cake
EXOTIC FLAVORS
Mr. Harry's Carnival Foods: Barbie (wedding cake and cotton candy), Bananas Foster, Red Velvet, Tootsie Roll, Dreamsicle, Fuzzy Navel, and cherimoya (a tropical fruit that Mark Twain once called “the most delicious fruit known to men”)
Tropical Moose: Motor Oil (blackberry), Monkey Snot (sweet green apple), Wapple (watermelon plus apple), Fruity Pebbles (strawberry, orange, peach, and Tom Collins), and Georgia Sunrise (peach and orange)
ADULT OPTIONS
Mr. Harry's Carnival Foods: Snowtini cocktails (which are “shaven, not stirred”) in flavors like piña colada, cotton-candy vodka, strawberry rum, and margarita
Tropical Moose: None
LAGNIAPPES
Mr. Harry's Carnival Foods: Complimentary sweet cream, sour shots, sprinkles, and gummy bears
Tropical Moose: Complimentary Nerds and sprinkles; The Volcano features a topping of exploding Pop Rocks candy
MAGICAL INNOVATION
Mr. Harry's Carnival Foods: Shaved-ice fresh-squeezed lemonade with strawberry flavoring is addictive.
Tropical Moose: The Hawaiian Dream Cone, with shaved ice over ice cream, doubles the pleasure.
OTHER FOOD
Mr. Harry's Carnival Foods: Turkey legs, chili pie, funnel cakes, nachos…
Tropical Moose: None
DOG TREATS
Mr. Harry's Carnival Foods: None
Tropical Moose: The Canine Cooler is shaved ice pressed with a decorative paw print, filled with a “puréed liver-based juice.”
DECOR
Mr. Harry's Carnival Foods: Circus theme includes posters, clown dolls, and free popcorn
Tropical Moose: Shack is festooned with plaques honoring the winners of the one-day, 54-flavor Marathon Challenge, which requires a minimum of nine consecutive hours of eating shaved ice
